Grafton Set For Sensational Night Of Racing

GRAFTON'S famous July carnival reaches its crescendo this Wednesday night, with a top card of racing highlighted by the running of the Listed Taylor Family Clarence Valley Sheds Maiden Final (407m).

Carrying a cool $15,000 to-the-winner, the time-honoured maiden classic has brought together a terrific field of young gallopers, highlighted by Neil Staines' fastest qualifier Club Double, the son of Dyna Double One a resounding winner of his heat in a sizzling 23.04.

"I missed last year's Carnival but apart from that we go up to Grafton every year," Neil Staines said.

"I've never ever got a dog through to the Maiden Final before but we usually come away with some sort of event. We won the Stayers Cup in 2014 with Pumped Up Zarr."

Without the benefit of a trial at Grafton, Club Double was best to begin and the debutant showed great acceleration to quickly open up an unassailable lead as he careered away to an 8.75 length victory over Walkaway Plastic in a best of night 23.04.

"I was very happy with the dog," Staines offered.

"When we started off with him I was looking at this race but we ran into a bit of trouble. He's a big, rangy dog and he kept pulling up sore. I didn't want to rush him and when we went up to Grafton to trial I didn't take him because he was sore at the time, so he went into the heats cold.

"But if they can begin that's a big help and right from the start he's been a good beginner, a good box dog."

Wednesday night's quaddie kicks off with the running of the Ladbrokes Distance Final (610m), where the fastest qualifier is the Robert Andrews-trained Him The Master, the son of Don't Knocka Him a 3 ¼ length heat winner in a smart 35.56.

The other heat was taken out by the Geoff Grimwood-trained Cosmic Zesta in narrow fashion in 36.28, while Peter Simpson looks set to play a leading hand in the $2,500 to-the-winner finale, qualifying heat placegetters Jonesy and Final Chalice.

Race six is the Village Green Hotel Sprinters Cup Final (407m), where Evelyn Harris's outstanding group race galloper Cosmic Bonus leads the charge following his slick 23.09 heat winning performance, stopping the clock in the same time as fellow heat winner Bogan Bomber.

Making his Grafton debut in the series, Cosmic Bonus (Cosmic Rumble x Dark And Stormy) has drawn box five for Wednesday night's feature finale where he's sure to be the subject of strong support in what looms as an absorbing spectacle, with just two lengths separating the four heat winners.

Spookie Dynamic claimed his heat in 23.10 for Reg Gardoll defeating exciting prospect Wheelie Wheels by ¾ of a length, while Iconic Beach claimed his 12^th race victory for John Dart when running away with his heat in 23.21.

Sitting up in box one for the final is the Claude Dacey prepared Corykodi, with the classy son of Paw Licking sure to be well found by punters also.

Race eight on the card – the Westlawn Finance Stayers Cup (610m) carrying a cool $6,000 to-the-winner – has brought together a top field of middle distance gallopers, with Group 2 Bob Payne Spring Sprint winner Watch The Wasp drawn box one for Dean Swain.

One of two runners for Swain, also rugging up Starzsa Light who finished fourth in this race last year, Watch The Wasp looks a huge chance from box one at his Grafton debut, with a victory set to take the son of Shakey Jakey's stake-earnings past $100,000.

For all the form for what promises to be an outstanding night of racing at

Grafton click here:

Grafton Form Wednesday July 11